| Erin Edgemon: New shop puts wedding costs on a budget |
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Posted: Sunday, February 1, 2009 7:15 am
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Karen Whitaker knows you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful wedding.
Now, she is taking her personal experience in planning weddings and living on a budget, and putting them to work in her new boutique set to open in the former location of Ruby’s Dress Shop. Encore Bridal and Formalwear will open Saturday, Feb. 7 at 106 N. Church St.
Encore specializes in new and like-new wedding dresses for $300 and under. Most prom dresses and other formalwear are $100 and under. The shop carries accessories and gift items.
Consignment dresses are accepted by appointment.
About eight years ago, Whitaker planned her second wedding on a small budget.
“We wanted a nice wedding but being a little smarter, we realized you don’t have to spend a lot of money for a nice wedding,” she said.
Just by doing a little research, she found deals on a wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses and many other facets of the special day.
“Over the years, I helped friends and family members do the same thing,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker teaches fifth-grade at Cason Lane Academy and plans to continue to teach after the store opens.
“Eventually, once I retire I would like to do the whole wedding planner gamut,” she said. Whitaker even hopes to open a reception space once the economy improves.
But despite the current economy, Whitaker said, “there will always be weddings and there will always be proms.” Consumers are just looking to find the most bang for their buck.
Due to popular demand, Encore will carry jewelry lines and Christmas sweaters previously carried by Ruby’s.
Ruby’s Dress Shop closed after 45 years in business at the end of 2008.
Whitaker said she “got really lucky” in securing the space for her shop.
“I have lived in Murfreesboro more than 30 years,” she said. “Ruby’s has been an icon to me, too.”
And, she feels lucky in that her shop is located on the Public Square with all its small business owners who have taken her under their wing.
“It is like a family,” Whitaker said.
Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call Encore at 893-7211.
•••
Due to the high demand for unemployment claim filing, the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development is offering small group sessions for filing at area career centers.
These mass claims sessions will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and at 8:30 a.m. Fridays. Murfreesboro’s career center is located at 1313 Old Fort Pkwy., adjacent to the Tennessee Technology Center.
No appointments are necessary. Sessions will continue as long as necessary.
During the meetings, claimants will complete their required forms and learn how to certify their eligibility on a weekly basis, either online or by phone. Weekly eligibility certification is required as long as they are receiving unemployment benefits. At the end of the session, staff will review and process the claims onsite.
Only simple out-of-work claims will be processed during these sessions. This doesn’t include voluntary quit or discharge claims.
In order to file during a group meeting, the claimant must have been laid off from his job because of lack of work and must have a separation notice or letter from the employer stating that the separation was because of lack of work or reduction in force (sometimes written as furloughed).
Claimants should bring two forms of identification and their separation notice to the meeting.
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com
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